Why do we yawn? You might think it is because we are tired or bored. However, according to some research, yawning has nothing to do with either of those things. This episode begins with a look at the real reason we yawn and why yawning is contagious. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3425960&page=1

If you have ever tried to make a significant change in your life, you know it can be very difficult. It’s why so many New Year’s resolutions don’t last very long. What makes change so hard? One of the big reasons is what executive coach Marshall Goldsmith calls “triggers.” Triggers are those things that can get in the way of achieving your goals. Listen as Marshall offers concrete advice for making lasting positive changes and achieving your goals by managing those triggers. Marshall is author of the book Triggers (http://amzn.to/2dWTWog).

Why do you like the things you like? You probably have a favorite color or a favorite food – but why? It is interesting that one person can hate something that another person loves. It applies to clothes, cars, numbers, people – almost anything. What is it that influences our tastes and preferences? Listen as I speak with Tom Vanderbilt author of the book You May Also Like (http://amzn.to/2h8YecT ) and discover why you prefer some things over others and why you have a favorite color.

What really matters when it comes to health and long life? Yes, exercise, diet and lifestyle are all important, but it actually may have even more to do with the kind of person you are. To find out if you are that kind of person who is likely to live a long and healthy life, you need to answer an important question. Listen and I will tell you what that question is. (Source: Dr. Paul Persall author of, Write Your Own Pleasure Prescription: https://amzn.to/2RdFqyU).

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You mother likely told you to drink a lot of fluids when you have a cold or the flu. So, what is the theory there? How does drinking water or juice or anything else fight off an illness? A lot of people think it flushes out your system but that’s not the reason. This episode begins with the actual reason why it is a good idea to keep drinking when you are sick – but not too much. https://www.realsimple.com/health/first-aid-health-basics/too-much-water-while-sick-can-be-dangerous

Have you ever had a bad day or a difficult encounter with someone and you just can’t shake it off? The result can be that you keep thinking about it and that negatively impacts your performance the rest of the day. It happens to all of us I suspect and there is a technique that can really help. Dr. Adam Fraser author of the book The Third Space (https://amzn.to/35BAPub) explains how elite athletes, salespeople and peak performers everywhere don’t let a bad experience keep them down and you can do it too. 

Here's a little test: Can you sit on the floor and then get up without using your hands? There is good news for those who can and bad news for those who cannot. Listen as I explain why. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2247402/Can-floor-using-hands-If-heading-early-grave.html

How do you spot a trend? Where do trends come from? Rohit Bhargava has been trying to predict trends for a decade and has published a book about it each year for the last several years. He uses something called “Non-Obvious Thinking” which he says we should all do to help us spot new opportunities. Rohit joins me to explain how you do it and what the latest trends are. His latest book, which will be the last one in the series is called Non Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future (https://amzn.to/36PG61q).

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There is something about feeling appreciated that feels so very good. However, there is one big problem with appreciation. This episode begins with an explanation of how appreciation is often misused and is often a missed opportunity. http://ombudsfac.unm.edu/Article_Summaries/Beyond_Reason.pdf

Laughter can be magical. Not just the act of laughter but the word itself. It seems just using the word in conversation can win you big points. That’s according to my guest Will Jelbert, a communications consultant who has spent the last several years researching how to best use the written and spoken word to connect with people. He is also the author of Word Wise: Say What You Mean, Deepen Your Connections, and Get to the Point (https://amzn.to/358ndaX). Will joins me to explain how using the right words in your communication can make you a much more powerful communicator.

People like to procrastinate. Which is weird when you think about it. If you have something that needs doing, why not just do it? Here to explain why we procrastinate and to offer some great advice on how to get things done that you keep putting off is psychotherapist Matthew Boone. Matt is an instructor at the University of Arkansas and author of Stop Avoiding Stuff (https://amzn.to/2FyXTlw). 

It seems pretty common for people who are about to get married to have second thoughts. But could those second thoughts be trying to tell you something important? Listen as I explain. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/should-i-marry-him-238482.aspx

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If you think you’re okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else’s, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  PAID FOR BY NHTSA

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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There are a lot of theories and myths about alcohol and how not to fall victim to its effects. For example, mixing caffeine with alcohol will make you feel less sleepy or that light beers are healthier than regular beers. I begin this episode with an examination of which of these and other commonly held beliefs about alcohol are true or false. http://www.purewow.com/wellness/Alcohol-Myths

Why do we dream at night? Do those dream serve a purpose or are they random thoughts that occupy your brain while you are asleep? Journalist Alice Robb, author of the book Why We Dream (https://amzn.to/2LmMMuy) explores the science of dreams and offers some proven ways that you can use your dreams to help you in your waking life.

What is the best tasting ketchup? Is it some fancy organic gourmet ketchup or is it Heinz or Hunts or maybe Del Monte? When you test them side-by-side, there is an obvious winner. Listen and discover which ketchup is the best according to almost everyone. (The New Best Recipe cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen – (https://amzn.to/2LmL9gd)

You probably have a lot more electronic friends on social media, texts and email than you have real friends. And while electronic friends are fine, having traditional friends and connections is probably more important than ever before. Susan RoAne author of the book How to Work a Room (https://amzn.to/2ElLcrk) explores the importance of friendships and offers practical ways to find and make new friends.

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If you think you’re okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else’s, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  PAID FOR BY NHTSA

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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Smiling is a universal expression of happiness. Even babies born blind smile. So, what does smiling do for you? Why are we attracted to another person’s smile? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief look at smiling. https://www.livescience.com/5254-smiles-innate-learned.html

Our lives are full of rituals. We have religious rituals, family rituals, holidays rituals, personal rituals – rituals are everywhere. By definition rituals don’t really perform a function beyond being a ritual. So why do we have them? Why do we need them? Here to discuss the importance of human rituals is Dimitris Xygalatas. He is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist who runs the Experimental Anthropology Lab at the University of Connecticut. And he is author of the book Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living (https://amzn.to/3Pq7U4b).

Even though everyone knows how important exercise is, a lot of people hate it. Why is that? Why is something so important to your health so despised and avoided by so many? It just may be that we never really evolved to exercise – at least not the way we do it today. That’s according to Daniel E. Lieberman. Daniel is a professor of biological sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. And author of the book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding (https://amzn.to/3hoPQea). Listen and you won’t feel so guilty the next time you decide you really DON’T want to go out and exercise. 

It is common wisdom that salt can elevate your blood pressure – and reducing the amount of salt will help lower it. Is that true? Listen as I explain the science of salt and blood pressure and why potassium is also a key player in the story. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/relationships-between-salt-potassium-6609.html

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If you think you’re okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else’s, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  PAID FOR BY NHTSA

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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Still need to get some holiday shopping done? One of the biggest stressors is trying to find a parking spot. So, this episode begins with some smart holiday parking strategies to help you score a spot quickly in a crowded parking lot. https://jalopnik.com/how-to-win-the-holiday-parking-game-5963162

Over the last several months there has been a lot of talk about a worldwide microchip shortage. These are the semi-conductor chips that control the workings of cars, electronics and just about everything else it seems. Why are they in such short supply? How hard are these chips to make? What is it they do exactly? These are some of the questions addressed by Chris Miller. He teaches International History at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and he is author of best selling book called Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology (https://amzn.to/3ULP20k).

Ever notice when conditions are just right – very smart people can make very poor choices? This happens a lot when people are panicked but it also happens because of some other interesting and uniquely human factors. Why does this happen? Joining me to talk about this is Christopher J. Ferguson, professor of psychology at Stetson University in Florida and author of the book Catastrophe!: How Psychology Explains Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse (https://amzn.to/3VKFHaF).

If you have heated seats in your car, you need to be careful to avoid something called Toasted Skin Syndrome. Listen as I explain how it happens, what it looks like and what to do about it. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-beware-reports/beware-toasted-skin-with-heated-seats-reports-idUSTRE81M26P20120223

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If you think you’re okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else’s, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  PAID FOR BY NHTSA

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal?  If you feel different, you drive different.  Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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We are taught that jealousy and envy are not particularly productive emotions. Well, maybe – and maybe not. This episode begins with a look at how jealousy and envy can actually help you achieve your goals. Plus, you’ll hear what the difference is between jealousy and envy because they are not the same thing. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19918585/jealous/

Successful dog training is all about conditioning and giving rewards for good behavior. However, when we want people to change their behavior, we are more inclined to criticize and correct the negative more than we reward the positive. So what if we treated people the way a dog trainer trains a dog? That’s what Dr. Karen London advocates. Karen is an experienced dog trainer and behaviorist and she is author of a book called Treat Everyone Like a Dog (https://amzn.to/3m9y1w1). Listen as she explains how to take the principles of positive dog training and use them to get people to do what you want.

Our language is constantly changing in some interesting and unusual ways. That is why the English of William Shakespeare sounds so strange compared to the English spoken today and while the English spoken in North America is different than the English spoken in the UK. How and why does it change? That is what David Shariatmadari is here to discuss. David is a writer and editor at the Guardian and author of the book, Don’t Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language (https://amzn.to/3ngvp0x)

Why is it that we get a runny nose when it is really cold outside, even when you aren’t sick? Listen as I explain how it is a by product of how your body works to actually keep you healthy and happy. http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/01/01/why_does_my_nose_run_in_the_cold/

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When you go to a restaurant, there are some things you may not want to touch. Why? Well, because they are crawling with germs and just kinda gross. This episode begins with a look at the germiest things in restaurants. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/germ-infested-areas-restaurants_n_2159281.html

Christmas is chock full of traditions. We wrap Christmas gifts and put them under a tree, we eat Christmas foods, we sing Christmas songs, we send Christmas cards and on and on. Where did these traditions come from? Here with the backstories of some of your favorite holiday traditions is Brian Earl. He is host of the Christmas Past podcast https://christmaspastpodcast.com/podcast/ and author of the book Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday’s Traditions (https://amzn.to/3FoB3bt). If you love Christmas, you will want to hear this conversation.

Talking with children is different than talking to other adults – or at least it should be. That’s the message from my guest Rebecca Rolland, a speech pathologist, Harvard lecturer, and author of the book The Art of Talking with Children (https://amzn.to/3Y2nYgd). Since there is a good chance you’ll spending time with children during the holidays (yours or someone else’s) this discussion will come in very handy and give you some insight into how to have great conversations with kids that benefits them and you. 

Ever see that sign in the store that says, “Buy one, get one free”? Sounds tempting but is it really a good deal or could it be a trap? Listen as I explain some retail psychology at work that you should be aware of. http://www.businessinsider.com/7-way-stores-trick-you-into-making-impulse-purchases-2012-5?op=1

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Especially around the holidays, wouldn’t it be great if you could get more done in less time? Listen as I explain a simple strategy that works amazingly well yet only 1 in five people bother to do it. http://www.balancetime.com/

Throughout human history and in every culture there has been religion. People are drawn to religion. Why? What does religion really do for people? That is a fascinating question. And it turns out that people who practice religion get some wonderful benefits according to David DeSteno author of the book How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion (https://amzn.to/3AWs2Vx) and host of the podcast How God Works https://davedesteno.com/podcast . Listen as he explores the scientific findings that help explain why religion is so important, how it benefits people and how anyone can reap those benefits regardless of what you believe. 

What would it really be like to live in outer space? What would it do to your body and your mind. After all, humans know nothing but living with gravity. So what happens if you go for long periods of time without it? To answer that and more is someone who has actually travelled to space and lived there for a long time – TWICE! Dave Williams is an astronaut, pilot, ER physician, former Director of Space & Life Sciences at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and author of the book, Why Am I Taller?: What Happens to an Astronaut's Body in Space (https://amzn.to/3FoI5xK). Listen as he explains the challenges as well as the benefits of living in space. If you’ve ever wondered how people sleep or eat in zero gravity, tis will be a fun conversation to listen to. 

“That’s a whole nother story…” It is a common phrase yet it contains a word that isn’t really a word – or is it? Listen as I explain what the “nother” in “a whole nother story” is all about.

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The Christmas season is full of stories and traditions. This episode begins with some facts about Christmas you may have never heard before. For example, ever wonder why we use the term Noel at Christmas? Did you ever wonder what Christmas decorations are edible? Listen to discover the answers to these questions and get other fascinating Christmas information that will be fun to share. (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/50-things-yule-never-know-653613)

 I am sure you have the best of intentions. Yet, intentions are not enough. Very often people fail to follow through and act on their good intentions. Why is that? If you tell yourself you are going to do something, why don’t you just do it? Well, there is a good reason why and here to discuss it is Steve Levinson, clinical psychologist, inventor, entrepreneur and internationally recognized authority on the topic of following through. He is the author of a couple of books including Following Through (https://amzn.to/36rIldU).

 Your brain is the control center of your entire body. The brain does so many wonderful things and works in ways you probably don’t realize. Joining me to discuss how your brain functions and ways you can help it function even better is neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett. She is a professor at Northeastern University, Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Harvard University and author of the book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (https://amzn.to/2JJecxK).

Warming your car up on a cold morning before you drive it seems like a good idea. But is it really? If your car battery dies and needs a jump, how long does it take to fully charge it. Listen as I answer some important questions every car owner needs to know.(https://www.motorbiscuit.com/do-you-really-need-to-warm-up-your-car/ )

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